MLB players and money?

Question

Do you think the players of the MLB are over paid

Answer 1

As much as I love baseball, I must admit, yes they are. Teachers make like what $18,000 a year? People are dying from cancer because there isn't a cure. As much as I love the sport, there are things that are MUCH more important, such as health and education.

Answer 2

Fans ultimately pay the players so it is up to us what they get paid. If fans did not go out to the ballparks in record numbers, buy MLB merchandise such as jerseys, subscribe to cable TV and lay out money in other areas less money would be available to pay the players. In this case players could make the same choice facing the rest of us when offered a job that pays less than we hope, accept it and work for the lower amount or look elsewhere.

Answer 3

Yes, disgustingly overpaid, but you have only us to blame, we spend the money on it.

How much would these players make if it weren't for sports, who knows, but not a lot. They don't care about that though, they centre on their 'short' careers.
However, if you make $12 mil instead of $40k, (which is 300 years worth of salary), your career in baseball isn't 300 times less than a regular career.

As for the relative low # of players, if every major league player quit right now and we had to take players 751-1500 to play baseball, other than 'name recognition', I wouldn't miss anything. You would still have the same result.

If baseball economics did fall and took with it the high prices of tickets, concessions and the price of goods that are increased because of MLB advertising, I would be willing not to follow Maddux, Pujols, Santana and happily follow.

BTW, some CFL players make as little as $30,000 a year (or did the last time I looked at salaries)

Answer 4

Sure, some players are overpaid, some are way overpaid, and some are underpaid in comparison. But in the end, who pays the salaries? The argument that pro athletes are overpaid and teachers are underpaid is one that has been playing out for years. I'm really not having much sympathy for the cause though. Teachers chose their career knowing full well what they were likely to make as did those wtih athletic ability. Many athletes came from nothing and many do some good with the money the make. And why do you just mention MLB players when there are plenty of professional athletes in other sports (and non sports, David Beckham,anyone?) who make millions and millions?

Answer 5

of course they are overpaid. Then they do not know what to do with all that cash and get into trouble. Then again, I just hope the Indians overpay to keep CC Sabathia. We are all against overpaying players but then curse the GM's and owners when they do not spend the dough to keep the great players - or even mediocre talent. We, the fans, actually perpetuate the cyle. Otherwise, the agents asking for the exorbitant contracts could be left hanging in the breeze but we, the fans, demand action from ownership and management. We want results and we want them NOW so part of it is our fault.

Answer 6

No I do not, if you look at the people in the whole entire world and then look at how many people are in the big leagues, it is less than 1%. Of the billions of people on the planet only 750 of them are good enough to play big league baseball. That is a rare type talent and that person should be rewarded for his abilities. People speak about how teachers can should be paid more tahn baseball players, remember this though.Any kid from anywhere can be a teacher all it takes is hard work,and an education, it doesnt matter how hard you work at being a baseball player, you can spend hour after hour practicing, but if you are not born with it you will never develope it and chances are you will never come close to living your dream. Athletes are a rare breed of person, they should be well paid for their gifts.

Answer 7

No. If you believe baseball players, or athletes, are overpaid, then consider actors and actresses ---- are they overpaid? No. Do we, as normal income americans, consider their contracts to be rediculous when talking about $250 million -- of course, b/c we cant fathom that kind of money. The bottom line is that they are ENTERTAINMENT that WE pay for. Do mediocre actors get paid big bucks? No. Why? B/c people don't enjoy watching them as much b/c they ARE NOT AS GOOD. Same thing applies in sports. No one is going to want to go pay money for tickets to watch Joe Schmoe from Pittsburgh pitch against Tampa Bay - that doesn't sell tickets. BUT, people will pay big $ to go watch Clemens and the Yanks pitch against Beckett and the Sox. The same reason people wont go to Ocean Water 2 but Oceans 13 is a box office hit. THEY ARE A RARE TALENT --- AND IF THEY ARE GOOD, THEY MAKE EXTREME CONTRACTS!

by the way: i think it would be nice to see a clause where they are paid upon performance.

Answer 8

Yes, especially considering that they do something (as a career) that most people do just for fun and get many perks because of it. Sure, they play many games and it'll eventually take a toll on their bodies, but most people go to work every day, 9 to 5, never make anywhere near as much, and suffer the stress of that job for years and years. They can't retire when they're 35 either.

Answer 9

They're astonishingly overpaid. Along with the athletes in the NFL, NBA, and yes even the NHL players still make a hell of a lot compared to us common folk.

Answer 10

A-ROD is about to sign a contract for 8 years for $320 million after a 10 year $252 million
(40 million per year)


Barry Zito, 7-10 record, has a 7 year $152 million deal (21.7 mill per)
Alfonso Soriano, 6 year $136 million deal (22.6 mill per)
Derek Jeter, 8 year $189 million deal (23.6 mill per)

In the NFL the highest is Michael Vick.
10 year $130 million
13 million per year

In the NBA:
Shaquille O'Neal 5 year $100 million (20 mill per)
Kobe Bryant 6 year $136 million (22.6 mill per)
Kevin Garnett 7 year $150 million (21.4 mill per)

Answer 11

I'd tell them "It's my life. I make my choices. Get the f*** out of my life and get back in yours." Sure money and fame is nice, but steroids can ruin you and give you health problems. What is the point of having wealth is you are too busy with bone injuries to do anything with it? You can't put a price on your own life.